The Quote-Driven Interview: A New Strategy in Tech Hiring

Uncovering true work philosophies by gauging candidates’ reactions to industry visionaries

Author

Jim Stroud
December 22, 2024

SourceCon Community, 

Happy Holidays!

In this issue:

  • The Rumors are true

  • The Quote-Driven Interview

  • Fresh Content

  • Upcoming Events

  • Recruiter Meme of the Week

…

SourceCon Community,

For those who missed the press release, the rumors are true, SourceCon has merged with ERE to form a newly rebranded conference - Recruiting Innovation Summit (RIS). No doubt, you have multiple questions and I am here to assist. Let me start by addressing what I’ve been asked so far.

  • Have the SourceCon hackathons expired? No, you can expect this SourceCon tradition to continue.

  • What about the lifetime passes for those who won past hackathons? Lifetime passes will still be honored. You earned them and no one is taking that away.

  • Can I still submit content for a SourceCon ticket? You can still submit content and I encourage you to do so, but it will no longer count towards a ticket to RIS (formerly SourceCon) event.

  • What’s the difference between SourceCon and RIS? Instead of an entire conference devoted to sourcing, it will be a track on the RIS agenda.

If you have more concerns, I suggest you do one or all of the following:

a) Reply to this newsletter via email, or drop me a note on LinkedIn and I will give you an update. Or better yet, pose it in the Facebook group so I won’t have to keep repeating myself. Yeah, I think I like that option best.

c) Check out the video below

If you feel like this is the end of SourceCon, I assure you it is not. It is only a new beginning in concert with changes in the market. Change is no longer coming. It is here. I look forward to experiencing it with you.

Jim Stroud
Your SourceCon Editor

P.S. One of the changes you will experience is this newsletter. A separate email announcing that will hit your email in the very near future. So, stay tuned for that. ;-)

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The Quote-Driven Interview: A New Strategy in Tech Hiring

Hey recruiter when interviewing candidates one thing you may want to consider is how a candidate approaches work are they a daring risk taker or a worker bee set on maintaining the status quo? The hiring manager wants to know! Fortunately,  ChatGPT can help. Check out this conversation I had with ChatGPT.

My initial prompt was this...

Give me three provocative quotes on innovation from Tech leaders.  I want to use them in an interview with a software developer so I can see their reaction and gauge their approach to software development. Tell me to quote, guess three reactions and what each reaction may mean.

These are the quotes it gave me.

Steve Jobs: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

Elon Musk: “If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.”

Jeff Bezos: “If you double the number of experiments you do per year, you’re going to double your inventiveness.”

And this is how ChatGPT thought possible reactions from a developer might mean. 

Reaction: The developer nods thoughtfully and says, “That makes sense. I’ve actually been looking for ways to experiment more in my side projects.”

What it Means: This suggests the developer embraces iterative learning, values continual improvement, and may thrive in an environment that encourages taking calculated risks. They see innovation as a natural part of personal and professional growth.

Reaction: The developer crosses their arms, frowns slightly, and says, “These quotes sound nice, but in practice we have deadlines and clients that aren’t interested in failure or experimentation.”

What it Means: This indicates a more pragmatic or constrained view. The developer might be wary of idealistic notions and more focused on delivering stable, predictable outcomes. They may perform well under structured guidelines, but could struggle in a highly experimental setting that tolerates risk and uncertainty.

Reaction: The developer shrugs and remarks, “I’ve heard plenty of inspirational talk before, but real innovation comes from having the right tools and a good team, not just failing a lot.”

What it Means: This suggests a balanced skepticism. They acknowledge that good intentions and big statements aren’t enough. They believe in tangible support—resources, infrastructure, and collaborative dynamics—to turn visionary ideas into meaningful innovation. They might seek environments where strategy, support, and practicality align with innovation goals.

I thought this was interesting, but I wanted more insights in relation to the type of response the hiring manager would appreciate. Ultimately, I want to make hires of qualified people quickly and if I can introduce a candidate whose work philosophy matches the hiring manager, chances are I can reduce my time to fill. Make sense? So, this was my next  prompt.

I am considering this line of questioning for an upcoming interview with a developer. The hiring manager is very goal and deadline driven. Which response would likely be most appreciated by him?

And this was the response. 

If the hiring manager is very goal and deadline driven, they’ll likely appreciate the response that balances the idealistic view of innovation with practical concerns about meeting targets. In this case, that’s the second reaction—the one where the developer says something like, “These quotes sound nice, but in practice we have deadlines and clients that aren’t interested in failure or experimentation.” This response acknowledges the reality of delivering results on time and suggests the developer won’t prioritize experimentation at the expense of meeting critical business objectives.

Okay, I figured that, but it was good to have the validation. Hmm... As I think about it, it may be a good practice to do this in reverse. Consider a prompt like this.

I am interviewing software developers for a hiring manager who is very visionary in his approach and gives his workers a lot of leeway to experiment. Yet, he also keeps a close eye on deadlines and is quick to fire workers who do not deliver in a timely manner. When speaking to candidates about this opportunity, I want to use famous quotes to sift out candidates whose work philosophy closely match the hiring manager. Give me three quotes from tech leaders I can use and what the ideal response would be that would encourage the hiring manager to hire them. 3 examples, please. Go. 

And this was what ChatGPT gave me. 

Quote #1: Elon Musk – “If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.”

Ideal Response: “I agree that some level of failure is an indicator of pushing boundaries. I’m comfortable experimenting rapidly—testing ideas, learning quickly, and making adjustments—while still ensuring we deliver working solutions on schedule. It’s about using small setbacks as stepping stones to timely, better outcomes.”

Quote #2: Jeff Bezos – “We are stubborn on vision. We are flexible on details.”

Ideal Response: “I appreciate that approach. I’m committed to a clear long-term vision, but I’ll adapt my methods as needed to hit our targets. By staying flexible, I can quickly pivot when we find a better path, ensuring innovation doesn’t derail our timely delivery.”

Quote #3: Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn Founder) – “If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.”

Ideal Response: “I believe in rapid iteration and early market feedback. Launching a workable product early lets us refine and evolve quickly. I’m not afraid to release an imperfect version, as long as we’re continuously improving and hitting key deadlines to show steady progress.”

I think this could be a very helpful strategy when evaluating candidates but I am curious to learn what you think. If you would, drop a comment in our Facebook group and let's discuss it.

Operators are standing by. 

Fresh Content

Finding Purple Squirrels in Unusual Places

We’re always in search of those elusive purple squirrels. But where to find them? Here’s one place you may have never looked.

SCENARIO: I just received a hot new job req. It’s for Structural Engineers in Houston, TX. I’ve tried all the usual spots:

Our company’s ATS- CHECK LinkedIn post and search- CHECK LinkedIn post to my feed, inmails and connection requests- CHECK Indeed post and search- CHECK Posted the job to social media sites- CHECK Any applicable society/ association sites (including local chapters)- CHECK Quick Google advanced search- CHECK But I’m still not getting much traction. Where else can I look? Depending on the type of candidate, state websites might be a great option.

Sourcing Talent in Unfamiliar Territories

As Talent Sourcers, we thrive on challenges, right? But have you ever had to source for a country where talents are hesitant to relocate, or where you know little about the market?

In 2021, when I first embarked on the journey of sourcing talent for a gaming studio in Bucharest, Romania, I was stepping into the unknown. Romania, a country rich in history and famous for its Dracula legend, was a new frontier for me.

The Evolution of Sourcing

In this final episode of "The Source!" Jim Stroud, your SourceCon editor discusses the evolution of the sourcing industry with Jodi Hill, VP of Talent Acquisition at Evolent Health. Tune in for a great conversation!

Upcoming Events

Conference

Recruiting Innovation Summit
Las Vegas | Digital
April 29-30, 2024

Learn what comes next for talent acquisition. Build relationships that matter. (Register now for: Recruiting Innovation Summit)

Webinar

From X to Z—Connecting Young Career Professionals and Their Leaders

January 21, 2025 | 2:00 pm EST | 1 Hour

Join us for an engaging session exploring how to connect young career professionals with their leaders, unlocking the full potential of cross-generational collaboration. As Gen Z approaches 27% of the workforce by 2025, they bring unique job expectations and work styles that sometimes clash with Gen X managers. This shift calls for immediate action to address turnover, boost engagement, and improve productivity. (Click here for more information)

Recruiter Meme of the Week

May the source be with you!

Jim Stroud
Your SourceCon Editor
[email protected] 

P.S. I leave you now with this SourceCon classic. Enjoy.